By ALEX SPONSELLER The Toll Gate softball team won its opening round playoff matchup when it shut out Rogers 2-0 on Tuesday.

Titans’ starting pitcher Hayley Hindle was sharp on the mound, allowing just four hits, no runs and striking out eight batters.

Toll Gate will travel to  South Kingstown on Thursday afternoon to take on the Rebels in the quarterfinal round.

The team fell to Smithfield 2-1 last week which gave the Sentinels a bye in the first round and forced the Titans to play on Tuesday.

The two teams were scoreless after three innings of play, but the Titans would get on the board first when Kate Ferns hit a sacrifice fly to score Amanda Penney. Smithfield would respond in the bottom half of the inning, though, when Brenna Lawrence hit a two-run triple to give the Sentinels the 2-1 lead The Titans had multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position, including in the top half of the seventh when Amanda Preston reached second base with only one out. Smithfield would eliminate each threat and hold on to get the victory.

Hindle finished with two strikeouts in the circle for Toll Gate, while Syney Perreault got two hits at the plate.

“We just couldn't string the hits together, they were too spaced out. We had a runner at third three times, a runner on second twice, both of them had less than two outs and we just couldn't make the play to get those runs in. Unfortunately we just couldn't get the hit when we had runners in scoring position. It happens,” said Toll Gate coach Shana Willis after the loss.

“(Hindle) did a great job, she moved the ball around and kept them on their toes. She had some great defense behind her today and we’re looking forward to heading into the playoffs,” added Willis.

Willis has been pleased with her team’s enthusiasm this season and was excited to focus on the postseason.

“(Smithfield) is a great team that has solid pitching, defense and hitting. We hit a few nice balls but they got them and made the plays,” said Willis. “It just means they get to play another game, that’s all that that means. It doesn’t bother them. They don’t enjoy losing, especially the seniors, they work really hard and want to see the season end on a positive note. I’m looking forward to going to the playoffs with them.”